The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-08
GOV. G0RD0N'S MESSAGE.
AN ATTEMPT TO MIX THE RACES
AT ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.

Tho States Annual Appropriation of
$4,000 Intended to be Used Exclu-
sively for the Benefit of the Negroes
Sale OF the Spartanburg and Ashe-
vile Railroad-Other State Topics.
STATE OF GEORGIA, EXECUTIVE DEPT, /
ATLANTA, GA. July z, 1851. (
TO the Senate aud House of Representatives.:
Through the medium of a special message
wish 70 invite your attention to several matters
OF public Importance.
THE ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
In transmitting the reports made by the board
Of visitors appointed 20 attend the examinations
of the University OF Georgia and of the Atlanta
University your attention is respectfully asked
to the following extract from the report in ref
ence to the Atlanta University:
I'VE feel it to be our duty to call the attention
of your EXcellency to a fact in connection with
the Atlanta University which YVES a surprise to
us, and which we feel assured is not in accord
either with the policy and provisions of the
Legislature of the State or with the theory of
our institutions.
I'VE find in attendanceNat the Atlanta Uni
versity number Of white students of various
ages and both sexes, most of them having more
or less connection with the members of the
faculty or other officers, and one, at least, en-
tirely unconnected with the officials We men
tion these relations of the white students
not with the intention of suggesting that
there is any real difference between al
and children of those other than the faculty
but in order that all the facts may be known.
We have ascertained by conference with the
members OF the faculty of this institution that
it is their avowed intention TO receive all white
children who apply for admission into the
school, and we interpret this, in connection with
certain publications of theirs, as desire TO
break down the existing barriers against the CO.
education OF the two races We desire to say
that we regard this practice rs not only intrnS-
ically wrong, but as being, in this case.
traTNf v,Ar Of h.
priated by the State to this institution
In every enactment which the Legislature has
made upon this subject since and including the
year 1874 as well as in the constitutional deiega-
ton of authority to make it. the appropriation
has been made for the benefit of the colored
race alone. Indeed, the act of 1874, in terms de-
votes the sum of S. c0) per annum solely to that
people, and the act is in the nature of contract
by which they receive the sum in lieu of other
moneys. 1t occurs to us that the admission of
white children to participation in the benefits
of this appropriation, aside from the violation
of the general policy Of the State, is, in this
case, misuse of public moneys
From this extract from the boards report it
appears not only that white children are re-
ceived as pupils at the Atlanta University, but
that the authorities of that institution avow
their determination to matriculate all white
children who may try for admission.
The sum of $1,000, annually appropriated
under the act of March 8, 1874, to the Atlanta
University, is one-half OF the interest on S243,-
900, which was the sum realized by the State
IrOm LIe Lana SCRIP, under the act
of Congress of July 2, 1852, and the amending
act of April IA, 1864 donating public lands to
the several States and Territories, which
may provide colleges for the bene-
fit of agriculture and the mechanic
arts" This amount was at first an item in the
general appropriation bill but afterward the
act of March 3, 1874 was passed annually
approprating such sum to the Atlanta Unver-
sity. This sUIa of $4,000 thus appropriated is no
part of the interest derived from what is known
as the agricultural land scrip. The whole of
that fund was turned over TO the State Univer-
sity to be used in strict accordance with the act
of Congress; but in the spirit of perfect farness
and of liberality to its colored population the
State appropriates from the State treasury the
sum of 5000 annually for the education of the
colored people.
There is an obligation upon the part of the
State to give to its coored population this sum
Of money each year; but If no such legal obi
cation existed, the State, guided by an enlight-
ened public policy, would continue such ap-
preparation to colored institutions of learning
But the constitution of the State i'll providing
for the establishment of q system of common
schools, expressly provides that they shall be
free to all children of the State, but that sepa-
rate schools shall be provided for the white and
colored races. The General Assembly of the
State, in all it's legislation upon the subject of
education, has been careful to observe this pro-
vision of the constitution In fact, the people of
Georgia, in every form in which public opinion
can be expressed, have declared their unalter-
able opposition to the co-education of the races,
and it must be considered as part of the set
tied policy of the State in reference to
the colored race. The co-education of
the races is opposed in the interest of the col
Ored as well as OF the white race. It tends to
the deplorable result OF amalgamation SO de
Structive TO both races. All races which have
achieved anything in this world have been no.
mogeneous. l am in favor of the highest eleva-
tion of the coiored people of this State. of
which they are capable, but my first advice to
them for the elevation OF their race, would be to
Keep it separate and distinct. Georgia's policy
upon this question is plainly expressed i'll her
laws and constitution, and based upon the con
viction that the interest OF both races demands
that the children of the two should be educated
apart; and she cannot abandon that policy or
permit anyone to ignore it upon any false prin-
ciples OF sociology or political economy. Eight
thousand dollars must continue to be devoted TO
the education OF the colored race, but it is for
the General Assembly TO determine how that
sum shall be appropriated. The colored race in
Georgia is making most commendabie progress
i'll education. and the State government will rem
der every aid in its power to its colored citizens.
The sole question 10 be met is this: How can
this annual appropriation Of $1,000 be used SO as
to secure to the colored race the largest bene-
fits!" II has been suggested more than once
by the States able Commissioner of Public
Schools that this $1,000 should be expended
nually in maintaining normal school for the
education of colored teachers; or the Legsla-
ture might appropriate this sum if deemed ad
visabe To some one of the well established col
ored institutions taught exclusively by colored
teachers, and presided over by colored Presi-
dent and officers.
THE BOARD OF VISITORS.
In this connection ! ask the attention of the
Legislature to the law under which a special
Board of Visitors is appointed for the State
University and for the Atlanta University, as
found in the 1,201st section Of the Code and in
the third section Of the act of March g. 1874.
II will be observed that the duty Of the board is
ito attend the University examinations preced-
ing the annual commandments" and by
committee to report to the Governor, with the
least possible delay, the character of said eX-
animation" This Is all they are authorized to
do. They have no authority TO inquire into the
police of these institutions, or their sanitary
rangementS, or their financial condition. or
thor curriculum Of study, or anything else
connected with them. They must, under the
statute, simply attend the examinations
whose report accompanies this message, have
performed their duty efficiently, but they had To
go beyond their duty TO note the use Of an OBJ
noXious textbook in the Stnte University and
the presence OF white students at the Atlanta
University, Their reports, when confined to the
subject specified In the statute, however able
they may be, are practically worthless. and yet
the State pays for these reports more than half
as much as IS paid by the state for the educa-
ton at Dahlonega, or Nlilledgeville or Thomas
vile, of large number OF students for n full
scholastic year | recommend that the law be
repealed, or that 1t be amended so as greatly 10
enlarge the powers OF the board, and enable IL
20 inquire into and report upon everything con
nected with them which would be Of interest to
the representatives Of the people. In my opn-
ion such visitation annually is imperatively
needed, and would result in great benefit to the